HE OVERCOMES THE WORLD - THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
DATE: THURSDAY, 28TH OCTOBER, 2021 (SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE THE APOSTLES)
TOPIC: HE OVERCOMES THE WORLD
TEXT: JOHN 15:17-27
17. "These things I command you, that you love one another.
18. " If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before [it hated] you.
19. "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20. "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
21. "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake because they do not know Him who sent Me.
22. "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
23. "He who hates Me hates My Father also.
24. "If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.
25. "But [this happened] that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'
26. " But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
27. "And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
MESSAGE:
Today, the church commemorates Saints Simon and Jude, two of the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus, in today's reading, admonished the disciples to dwell in love (v.17). He told them that they would be hated by the world; Simon and Jude inclusive, because they were not of the world. However, the hatred should not cause them to fear but rather strengthen and encourage them because their Master had first been hated. Though the hatred that the world bears against Christ proceeds from the stupidity of their blind minds, they cannot give any excuse to explain away their fault. It is good to know that if Christ had not come, they would not have been wrong in saying before God's judgement seat that they were religious, and void of sin; but since Christ came to them, and they completely rejected him, they can't have a cloak for their wickedness (v.22). But all these happened that the law may be fulfilled (v.25). Despite all the hatred, enmity, strife, etc., Jesus told them (the disciples) that they would be comforted through the Holy Spirit in whom Simon and Jude were not excluded.
Brethren, it is natural that Christians are hated because Christ himself was hated. We should know that our hope is in the Holy Spirit whom Christ has sent to be our comforter. Always remember His word which says "These 1hings I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In this world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (Jn. 16:33).
PRAYER:
Father, make me stand strong at every face of persecution, in Jesus 'Mighty name. Amen.
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